Riley is a fascinating protagonist, with a fascinating story that compliments Alex’s journey. This is a result of the game’s biggest stumbling. Those who have never played Oxenfree are more likely to enjoy the story of Oxenfree II, even if they won’t have any clue what is happening at the game’s conclusion.īy the game’s finale, Riley gets sidelined in favor of retreading old ground. To put it in a way that sounds like nonsense, those who have played Oxenfree will have a more complete understanding of the story of Oxenfree II - but they are also less likely to enjoy the sequel because of how familiar its narrative feels. In an interview with Gamereactor during Summer Game Fest Play Days 2023, lead writer Adam Hines said, “You can jump into the sequel kind of cold.” This isn’t entirely true. Oxenfree II presents something of a paradox. But Oxenfree II’s radio is mostly just noise. There was a narrative purpose and cohesion to everything. Oxenfree’s central mystery was a constant presence on the in-game radio. While a man spookily talking about being trapped somewhere sure does fit the vibe, it can be ignored without consequence. There are only a handful of channels and beyond Maria’s radio show, none of them have any relevance to Oxenfree II’s plot. The radio is now relegated to being a machine for supernatural occurrences to play out like audio drama. The walkie-talkie also houses most of the supporting cast beyond Jacob, meaning we never get the interesting group dynamic of Oxenfree. While you can learn about Camena and uncover the occasional mystery with the walkie-talkie, the radio feels entirely useless beyond mandated story beats. The addition of the walkie-talkie takes some utility away from the radio, which makes both mechanics feel lacking. It was an incredibly versatile tool that revealed a world of mystery to the player.ĭespite being a bigger map than Oxenfree’s Edwards Island, the town of Camena feels empty. By tuning into certain frequencies, players could learn more about Edwards Island, open new areas, hunt down lost letters, and find mysterious messages over the radio waves that gave insight into the fascinating enemy. Oxenfree’s core mechanic - beyond branching dialogue - was the radio. This lack of freedom extends to the gameplay. The bulk of Riley’s adventure occurs in environments that are just variations of wooded paths. There are some side trails, but the experience on offer here is mostly a linear walk through town.Įdwards Island felt like a lived-in location, brimming with history and secrets to uncover. While the game map is bigger than Oxenfree’s Edwards Island, the space itself lacks a sense of possibility, with little to reward eager explorers. The best example of this is the new location of Camena. Walkie-Talkie Killed the Radio Starĭespite the new additions, much of Oxenfree II feels distinctly empty. The slowness of movement is intended to give the constant dialogue room to breathe, yet there is so much incessant chatter (none of which is as sharp as Oxenfree’s) that to hear everything someone has to say Riley will be standing still for minutes on end. The game’s restrictive paths constantly fight the player, and I found myself desperately wishing for a run button. Despite being a short game at roughly five to six hours in total, moving Riley through the world feels like a chore. Riley’s return to her hometown goes wrong when portals in space-time threaten to destroy reality. Riley is able to tune into these tears and explore different time periods of Camena’s history, leading to new puzzles and lore. While Jacob and Riley will find themselves stuck in short time loops (a familiar occurrence to players of Oxenfree) the impact on the world is larger in Oxenfree II, with rifts in time popping up across Camena. Making time to call will impact how each character makes it through the night, and some offer short detours from the main path. With nine channels, this lets her talk to a colorful cast at will, from her supervisor Evelyn to Maria, the host of the local high school's radio show. While Alex only had access to a radio in the first game, Riley has the added use of a walkie-talkie. Riley isn’t the only aspect of Oxenfree II that is new. However, her life gets even stranger when a trio of troublesome teens opens a portal in space-time that leaves Riley and new coworker Jacob stuck trying to save the town from destruction. She hopes that her new job planting radio transmitters across the town’s highest points will finally bring the sense of security that has been absent in her life. Netflix Let’s Do the Time Warp Againįive years after the events of Oxenfree, new protagonist Riley returns to her hometown of Camena. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals fumbles the sequel’s promising potential.
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